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1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Course Fact File

Code	MFSTHN
Duration	2 Years Full-time
Teaching Mode	Full-time
Qualifications	MSc
NFQ Level	Level 9
EU Fees	Year 1: €15,314 See Fees and Costs for full details.
Non-EU Fees	Year 1: €29,614
Closing Date	29 January 2027
Non-EU Closing Date	29 January 2027
Start Date	6 September 2027

Course Outline

The MSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics is an integrated postgraduate course that enables graduates with a BSc or MSc in Nutrition or equivalent degree to meet the standards of proficiency and professional competency so they are eligible to apply to the Dietitians Registration Board (CORU) for registration as a dietitian. The programme is delivered full-time over two calendar years.

The curriculum is based on standards set by the CORU Dietitians Registration Board (CORU) Criteria and Standards of Proficiency for Education and Training Programmes. The curriculum reflects current evidence-informed and research-based educational theory and dietetics practice. The course is delivered through lectures, workshops, practice education and problem-based learning tutorials.

Practice Education (placement) comprises a minimum of 1,000 hours of placement spread throughout the programme in Years 1 and 2 to facilitate the application of knowledge gained during the academic year. Practice Education is delivered through a partnership between the University, the Health Service Executive, and voluntary and private sector providers. Students will complete three compulsory placements in a variety of settings (hospitals, clinics, community settings) throughout Southern Ireland.

Year 1 (60 credits)

Core Modules

• DT6002 Nutritional Assessment in the Clinical Setting (5 credits)
• DT6003 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy (10 credits)
• DT6004 Food Skills and Food Service Management (5 credits)
• DT6006 Professional Practice and Interpersonal Skills (10 credits)
• DT6007 Public Health Nutrition (5 credits)
• DT6008 Medical Management of Disease (5 credits)
• DT6009 Clinical Practice Placement 1 (5 credits)
• DT6010 Applied Research for Dietetics (5 credits)
• DT6014 Dietetics Through the Lifecycle (5 credits)

Elective Modules (Choose 5 credits)

• AP6129 Health Psychology (5 credits)
• MH6039 Allergy and Immunology: The Nurse’s and Dietetics Perspective (5 credits)
• NT6107 Integration and Regulation of Nutrient Metabolism (5 credits)*

*Students who have not completed an undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences at UCC are required to take NT6107 unless the programme director has recognised prior learning on the topic.

Year 2 (60 credits)

• DT6011 Clinical Practice Placement 2 (5 credits)
• DT6015 Advanced Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (5 credits)
• DT6012 Clinical Practice Placement 3 (15 credits)
• DT6013 Research Dissertation in Dietetics (40 credits)

Course Practicalities

This programme is full-time over three semesters per year, over two calendar years. The course content will be delivered in modules of between 5-30 credits. Students enrol in modules to the value of 60 credits in Year 1 and 60 credits in Year 2, over a period of two calendar years. There will be 3 semesters per calendar year.

The first-year curriculum will consist of a 60-credit curriculum distributed over three semesters. The academic curriculum will complement a clinical skills curriculum which will be delivered simultaneously. In addition, students will experience clinical work placements which will be assessed as part of the clinical education for this programme.

Our students attend lectures daily with some time dedicated to independent learning, during semesters 1 & 2. Students will complete 28 weeks of clinical placements between Years 1 and 2. Students need to engage in at least 1000 hours of supervised clinical practice to meet the professional requirements of the Dietitians Registration Board. Students will need to complete a research project of limited scope, relevant to the clinical profession of Dietetics in Year 2.

Practice Education Placements take place in a variety of organisations including hospitals, community health organisations mainly across the HSE South West Region. Students may need to incur the costs of travel and accommodation for placements.  Students are generally allocated to placement sites in pairs.  Allocation of students to placement sites is made on the availability of placements and personal preferences for specific sites cannot be accommodated. 

Assessment

Assessment will be by continuous assessment and formal exams. This will consist of tutorial performance, small presentations, class tests, essays, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), and work placement assessments.

Who teaches this course

Staff of the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, HSE/Dietetic staff from Regional and National hospitals. Experts from a diverse range of backgrounds, both within and outside of UCC, contribute to the programme and a particular emphasis is given to intervention professional teaching and learning.

Why Choose This Course

UCC has a well-established suite of food-related BSc programmes, including a strong programme in Nutritional Sciences.

The School of Food and Nutritional Sciences at University College Cork has a longstanding national and international reputation for the provision of quality education in Food Science and Technology as well as in Nutritional Sciences. The School has state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, including a Food Processing Hall and a dedicated human dietary studies/clinical facility for nutrition research.

Our academic staff members are among the most highly cited scientists in their respective fields and contribute to the development of policies that improve public health, safeguard food safety and promote innovation and sustainability for the modern food industry. The School of Food and Nutritional Sciences is recognised for high-quality, collaborative research in several aspects of human nutrition including vitamin D and health, maternal and infant health, diet and cancer, health effects of phytochemicals, bioactive ingredients, nutritional surveillance, and nutrition transitions.

The School has well-established research and education links with the Departments of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at both Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital. The proposed programme will build on these existing collaborations as we continually develop clinical research and educational excellence in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at University College Cork. The proposed programme primarily includes advanced modules in clinical nutrition and dietetics, using novel methods in teaching and learning, such as enquiry-based learning, projects and self-directed learning, to promote the development of professional skills in addition to academic learning outcomes. The programme will be offered in partnership with experienced academics and practitioners committed to helping students to develop the necessary skills to become effective evidence-based dietetic practitioners.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Clinical education is an integral and invaluable component of the programme. It is strongly embedded within the course structure. Preceding campus-based studies provides the skills and knowledge which students require in order to be prepared for their placements.

The course offers a balance of university and practice-based experiences with students completing over 1000 hours of placement in sites mainly across the HSE South West Region. 

Skills and Careers Information

What can I do after I graduate with an MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics?

By studying this course you have the opportunity to become a highly skilled, evidenced based clinician, who can use a range of resources and evidence to deliver safe and appropriate dietetic advice in clinical, community and other settings. During the course you build on a wide base of transferable clinical skills which may enable you to specialise in a specific area of Dietetics following successful graduation. 

Occupations associated with an MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Dietitians are employed in a variety of locations, providing opportunities in areas such as:

• Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (hospital and community dietetics)
• Food Industry 
• Public Health Nutrition (government health, promotion agencies)
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Sports Nutrition
• Private Practice 
• Education 
• Research (nutrition and medical research-public and private sectors)
• Working overseas

Opportunities to work in research in Dietetics are expanding and students may use their masters as a stepping stone to doctorial study in the UK or overseas, or teaching in higher education.

Requirements

Applicants must have a minimum Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or a postgraduate degree (Level 9 NFQ).  Suitable degrees include nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, biology, food science, medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy.

Applicants must have successfully completed 10 credits of human physiology and 10 credits of biochemistry modules as part of their primary or postgraduate degree. 

Applicants who have not yet successfully completed 10 credits of human physiology and 10 credits of biochemistry as part of their primary or postgraduate degree will also be considered if they provide proof that they are registered for human physiology and biochemistry modules at the time of application.  Any offer made to such applicants will be conditional on meeting the standard academic entry requirements (Second Class Honours Grade 1 as detailed above) and successful completion of the human physiology and biochemistry modules in advance of the commencement of the MSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

Applicants must submit a personal statement, indicating their reasons for applying and stating their suitability for the programme.

Two references must be included with the online application, one of which should be academic and one professional (to be uploaded by the applicant when applying).

Applicants will be shortlisted for interview on the basis of educational qualifications, CV, references and relevant work experience.

Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. View UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise
This programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy.

All applicants accepted onto the programme will need to provide evidence of appropriate vaccinations for working in hospital environments.

 

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is Year 1: €15,314.

The Non-EU fee for this course is Year 1: €29,614.

How To Apply

Deposit

Please note that successful EU applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €1000 on acceptance of their place.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
• Describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Upload your CV.
• Upload two references, one academic and one professional.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 29 January 2027

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